Nursing pad wrapped body

ABSTRACT

A disposable nursing pad is provided which can be easily worn again after breast-feeding, and which prevents the nursing pad from losing its shape during breast-feeding. A nursing pad includes a nursing pad main body  10  including a first folding portion which is provided such that it passes a portion near the apex of the nursing pad main body, and extends up to a portion around the perimeter, and which serves as a folding axis along which the nursing pad  10  can be folded. The nursing pad further includes a wrapping member or a instruction manual that provides the information which instructs the user to wear the nursing pad main body with the first folding portion  15  being positioned obliquely from the upper-outer side to the lower-inner side of the user&#39;s breast. The nursing pad having such a structure allows the user to easily wear the nursing pad again after breast-feeding, without losing shape.

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2005-318430, filed on Nov. 1, 2005, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disposable nursing pad wrapped bodywhich can be easily worn again after breast-feeding, without losingshape of the nursing pad when breast-feeding.

2. Related Art

In general, a large amount of mother's milk is secreted in response tosucking stimulation from a suckling baby. In some cases, the mother'smilk is secreted without such a sucking stimulation. Also, the left andright breasts are linked in that when a mother gives one breast to asuckling baby, the mother's milk is also secreted from the other breast.In order to keep her clothing dry from such undesired secretion ofmother's milk, a nursing mother wears nursing pads in contact with theinner face of the user's underclothing such as a bra or the like suchthat they cover the breasts, thereby absorbing excess milk.

In general, a nursing mother, wearing a nursing pad on the inner face ofa bra, displaces the bra downward and obliquely to expose her breast. Atthis stage, the nursing pad is sandwiched between the bra and the outerface of the lower portion of the breast, leading to application ofpressure to the nursing pad. This often leads to the nursing pad losingits shape. A nursing pad which has lost its shape adheres to the innerface of the bra without recovery of shape by actions of an adhesiveapplied to the clothing used for preventing displacement of the nursingpad. This leads to difficulty in the user wearing the nursing pad againin a restored state.

On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2000-178805 (Patent Document 1) discloses a nursing pad having astructure in which recessed grooves 110 are formed across the portionwhich is to be in contact with the user's nipple (see FIG. 7). With sucha nursing pad disclosed in Patent Document 1, the nursing pad ismanufactured without heat application. This provides a dome-shapednursing pad corresponding to the shape of the user's breast whilekeeping the nursing pad feeling soft.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, the nursingpad disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the recessedgrooves 110 are formed on both sides across the portion which is to bein contact with the user's nipple. However, the portions where therecessed grooves 110 are formed differ from the portions along which thenursing pad often twists at the time of breast-feeding. Accordingly, thenursing pad easily twists excessively with each of the recessed grooves110 as a folding axis, leading to the nursing pad losing its shape. Thisleads to difficulty in the user wearing the nursing pad again.

The present invention has been made in view of the aforementionedproblems. Accordingly, it is an object thereof to provide a disposablenursing pad which can be worn again after breast-feeding, and which doesnot lose its shape during breast-feeding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have diligently studied these problems, givingattention to the fact that the nursing pad often twists obliquely when anursing mother displaces the bra downward and obliquely such that shecan expose or cover her breast. As a result, the present inventors havemade an arrangement in which a nursing pad main body includes a firstfolding portion, which serves as a folding axis that allows the nursingpad main body to be folded, provided such that it passes near an apex ofthe aforementioned nursing pad, and extends up to around the perimeterthereof, with a display being provided on a wrapping member or in aninstruction manual, providing information prompting the user to wear thenursing pad main body with the first folding portion being positionedobliquely from the upper-outer side to the lower-inner side of theuser's breast, whereby the present invention was realized. Morespecifically, the present invention provides the following arrangements.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a nursing pad wrapped bodyincluding: a nursing pad, the nursing pad having a pair of nursing padmain bodies formed in a shape that allows a user's breasts to becovered; and a wrapped member, the wrapping member wraps the nursingpad, each nursing pad main body including: a liquid-impermeable sheet,formed with an external shape and having a prescribed height fromperimeter to an apex of the nursing pad main body; a liquid-permeablesheet, provided on the breast side of the liquid-impermeable sheet andjoined to the liquid-impermeable sheet at the periphery thereof; anabsorber, provided between the liquid-impermeable sheet and theliquid-permeable sheet, which absorbs and retains mother's milk; a firstfolding portion, arranged such that it passes near the apex of thenursing pad main body and extends to around the perimeter of the nursingpad main body, which serves as a folding axis along which the nursingpad can be folded; and a display region, providing visual information ata position at which the information can be confirmed from outside of thewrapping member, which prompts the user to wear the nursing pad mainbody with the first folding portion being positioned obliquely from theupper-outer side to the lower-inner side of the user's breast.

The nursing pad wrapped body described in the first aspect includes thenursing pad main body having the first folding portion, which serves asa folding axis along which the nursing pad main body can be folded,provided such that the folding portion passes through near the apex ofthe aforementioned nursing pad main body, and extends up to around theperimeter thereof. Furthermore, a wrapping member includes a displayregion which provides the information that instructs the user to wearthe nursing pad main body with the first folding portion beingpositioned obliquely from the upper-outer side to the lower-inner sideof the user's breast. With such an arrangement, the user wears thenursing pad main body according to a wearing method displayed on thewrapping member. Furthermore, such an arrangement allows the nursing padmain body to be folded following the shape of the user's breast with thefirst folding portion as a folding axis when a nursing mother displacesthe bra downward and obliquely before breast-feeding. That is to say,the nursing pad main body is folded along the first folding portion,thereby effectively preventing the nursing pad from losing its shape.This allows the user to wear the nursing pad main body again along withthe bra in the normal state as before. Furthermore, such an arrangementprevents mother's milk stored in the absorber from escaping due to theabsorber being twisted.

In the present specification, the phrase “pass through the user's bodyobliquely” as used here means that the folding portion passes throughthe user's body obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis passingthrough the center of the user's body when the user is being in thestanding position. The term “upper portion” or “upper side” as used hererepresents the direction of the user's head along the longitudinaldirection. On the other hand, the term “lower portion” or “lower side”as used here represents the direction of the user's foot along thelongitudinal direction. The term “outer side” as used here representsthe side of the user's arm with respect to the user's body. On the otherhand, the term “inner side” as used here represents the side of thelongitudinal axis that passes through the center of the user's bodyhaving the breasts. As shown in FIG. 4, the “center axis” is indicatedby the line V, and the “upper portion” and “upper side” are indicated bythe reference numeral “U”. Also, the “lower portion” and “lower side”are indicated by the reference numeral “D”. The “outer side” isindicated by the reference numeral “O”, and the “inner side” indicateddenoted by reference numeral “I”.

In the present specification, the term “apex” as used here representsthe top end of the curved face of the nursing pad formed in the shape ofa dome or in an approximately conical shape, i.e., when a perimeter ofthe nursing pad is contact with a surface, a point which is farthestfrom this surface. On the other hand, the term “perimeter” as used hererepresents the portion near the outer edge of the nursing pad main body.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a nursing pad wrapped bodyincluding: a nursing pad, the nursing pad having a pair of nursing padmain bodies formed in a shape that allows a user's breasts to becovered; an instruction manual illustrating a usage method of thenursing pad; and a wrapping member, the wrapping member wraps thenursing pad and the instruction manual, each nursing pad main bodyincluding: a liquid-impermeable sheet, formed with an external shape andhaving a prescribed height from perimeter to an apex of the nursing padmain body; a liquid-permeable sheet, provided on the breast side of theliquid-impermeable sheet and joined to the liquid-impermeable sheet atthe periphery thereof; an absorber, provided between theliquid-impermeable sheet and the liquid-permeable sheet, which absorbsand retains other's milk; and a first folding portion, arranged suchthat it passes near the apex of the nursing pad main body and extends toaround the perimeter of the nursing pad main body, which serves as afolding axis along which the nursing pad can be folded, wherein theinstruction manual displays contents in which the nursing pad main bodyis worn with the first folding portion being positioned obliquely fromthe upper-outer side to the lower-inner side of the user's breast.

The nursing pad wrapped body described in the second aspect includes thenursing pad main body having the first folding portion, which serves asa folding axis along which the nursing pad main body can be folded,provided such that it passes through near the apex of the aforementionednursing pad main body, and extends up to around the perimeter thereof.Furthermore, the nursing pad wrapped body includes the instructionmanual which provides the information that instructs the user to wearthe nursing pad main body with the first folding portion beingpositioned obliquely from the upper-outer side to the lower-inner sideof the user's breast. This allows the user to wear the nursing padaccording to the wearing method displayed in the instruction manual,thereby offering the same advantages as those of the nursing pad wrappedbody described in the first aspect.

In a third aspect of the nursing pad as described in the first aspect ofthe present invention, the nursing pad main body, in a state folded intotwo with the first folding portion as a folding axis, is wrapped by thewrapping member, and in which the display region displays a state inwhich the nursing pad main body is worn such that the first foldingportion is positioned obliquely from the upper-outer side to thelower-inner side of the user's breast.

In a fourth aspect of the nursing pad as described in the first aspectof the present invention, in which the nursing pad main body furtherincludes fastening means for fastening the nursing pad main body to theuser's clothing at a region other than the first folding portion and aregion orthogonal to the first folding portion, and in which the displayregion provides information with respect to a method for fastening thenursing pad main body to the user's clothing using the fastening meanswith the first folding portion being positioned obliquely from theupper-outer side to the lower-inner side of the user's breast.

In a fifth aspect of the nursing pad as described in the second aspectof the present invention, in which the instruction manual includes adisplay of an example such that the first folding portion is positionedobliquely from the upper-outer side to the lower-inner side of theuser's breast.

In a sixth aspect of the nursing pad as described in the first aspect ofthe present invention, in which there is a difference in stiffnessbetween the first folding portion and a region other than the firstfolding portion of the nursing pad main body.

Advantages

The present invention provides a disposable nursing pad which allows theuser to easily wear it again while preventing the nursing pad fromlosing its shape during the breast-feeding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view which shows a nursing pad wrapped bodyaccording to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view which shows a display region provided to thenursing pad wrapped body according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a nursing pad main body as viewed from theoutside (from the side of the clothing);

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X′ in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the nursing pad main body;

FIG. 6 is a plan view which shows a nursing pad wrapped body accordingto a second embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a conventional nursing pad main body as viewedfrom the outside (from the side of the clothing).

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example of a nursing pad main body.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X′ in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description will be provided regarding embodiments according to thepresent invention with reference to the drawings.

Overall Structure of Nursing Pad Wrapped Body

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nursing pad wrapped body 1A accordingto a first embodiment. The nursing pad wrapped body 1A is a pack whichpacks multiple nursing pads including pairs of nursing pad main bodies,wrapped in a wrapping member 2A. The nursing pad wrapped body 1Aincludes a display region 6A for displaying a method of wearing anursing pad. FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram which shows the displayregion 6A.

The wrapping member 2A is formed by a known and conventionalmanufacturing method using a known and conventional material. Examplesof the materials preferably employed include a polyethylene film, etc.Examples of modifications of the present embodiment include a box-typenursing pad wrapped body. In this case, examples of the materials of thewrapped body include cardboard, etc.

Nursing Pad

FIG. 3 is a plan view which shows the nursing pad main body 10 for theright breast included in the nursing pad wrapped body 1A according tothe present invention (For the sake of simplification, descriptions willbe made regarding only the nursing pad main body 10 for the rightbreast). FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X′ in FIG.3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the nursing pad main body 10. Asshown in these drawings, the nursing pad main body 10 is formed in theshape of a dome. Note that the nursing pad main body 10 is alsopreferably formed in an approximately conical shape, as well as theshape of a dome. Also, the shape of the nursing pad main body 10 is notrestricted in particular, as long as the nursing pad is formed in ashape that fits the user's breast.

Nursing Pad Main Body

The nursing pad main body 10 includes: a liquid-impermeable sheet 11which forms the external shape; a liquid-permeable sheet 13 havingliquid permeability provided on the breast side of theliquid-impermeable sheet 11 with the perimeter 17 thereof being adheredto the perimeter 17 of the liquid-impermeable sheet 11; and an absorber12, which is provided between the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 and theliquid-permeable sheet 13, and has a function of absorbing and holdingmother's milk. The nursing pad main body 10 has a first folding portion15 which serves as a folding axis along which the nursing pad main body10 can be folded. The first folding portion 15 is formed such that itpasses near the apex 14 of the nursing pad main body 10, and extendsaround the perimeter portion 17 of the nursing pad. Furthermore,fastening means 16 are provided to a part of the liquid-impermeablesheet 11, except for the first folding portion 15 and the linear portionorthogonal to the first folding portion 15. The fastening means 16 allowthe nursing pad main body 10 to be fastened to the user's clothing.

Liquid-Permeable Sheet

The liquid-permeable sheet 13 is provided on the breast side of thedome-shaped nursing pad main body 10. Accordingly, the liquid-permeablesheet 13 is directly in contact with the user's breast, and is formed ofa material which feels soft. Furthermore, the liquid-permeable sheet 13needs to receive mother's milk, and to introduce the mother's milk tothe absorber 12 provided on the outside thereof. Accordingly, theliquid-permeable sheet 13 is formed of a liquid-permeable material.Specifically, the liquid-permeable sheet 13 is formed of hydrophilicfibrous non-woven fabric. Alternatively, the liquid-permeable sheet 13is formed of hydrophobic fibrous non-woven fabric or film having a greatnumber of pores.

Liquid-Impermeable Sheet

The liquid-impermeable sheet 11 is provided on the outer face of thedome-shaped nursing pad main body 10, and forms the external shape ofthe nursing pad main body 10. The liquid-impermeable sheet 11 is formedof a liquid-impermeable material such that it protects the user'sclothing from being damp due to an undesired escape of the mother's milkheld by the absorber layer 12. Specific examples of such materialsinclude: a moisture-permeable and liquid-impermeable drawn plastic filmcontaining an inorganic fine particles such as silica, alumina, or thelike; a laminate of a liquid-impermeable film and a fibrous non-wovenfabric; a laminate of a moisture-permeable and liquid-impermeable filmand a fibrous non-woven fabric; etc. Also, liquid-impermeable sheet 11may be formed of a composite non-woven fabric having a laminatestructure of spunbonded non-woven fabric and a meltblown non-wovenfabric.

Absorber Layer

The absorber 12 is formed of a mixture of particulate or fibrous highwater absorption polymer and fluff pulp, or a mixture of particulate orfibrous high water absorption polymer, fluff pulp, and thermoplasticsynthetic resin fiber. More specifically, such a mixture is pressed intoa sheet with a predetermined thickness, thereby forming the absorber 12.The absorber 12 is formed with a predetermined thickness over the entirearea by pressing processing. Thus, the absorber 12 exhibits a higherstiffness than that of the liquid permeable sheet 13 and the liquidimpermeable sheet 11 described above. Note that the entire area of theabsorber 12 is preferably wrapped in tissue paper in order to preventthe absorber 12 losing its shape, and to prevent polymer from escapingfrom the absorber.

The absorber 12 adheres to between the inner face of the liquidpermeable sheet 13 or the liquid impermeable sheet 11 through the tissuepaper using a hot melt adhesive or the like. Note that an arrangementmay be made employing an SM non-woven fabric or an SMS non-woven fabric,instead of the tissue paper. Here, each of the SM non-woven fabric andthe SMS non-woven fabric is a composite non-woven fabric formed in theshape of a sheet having a laminate structure in which a fibrousnon-woven fabric, which is formed with a high strength and highflexibility using a spun-bonding method, is provided to at least oneface of a fibrous non-woven fabric which is formed with a high fiberdensity using a meltblown method. With such an arrangement employingsuch a composite non-woven fabric, the fibers which form the fabricexhibit hydrophobicity. Accordingly, the absorber is preferablysubjected to hydrophilic processing in order to improve theliquid-permeability. Note that examples of high water absorptionpolymers employed include: starch polymer; cellulose polymer; syntheticpolymer; etc.

The adhesive is applied to the liquid-impermeable sheet 11, theliquid-permeable sheet 13, and the absorber 12, in any one of a spiralmanner, an undulating manner, a zigzag manner, a dotted manner, and astripe manner. With the present embodiment, the adhesive is applied tosuch a component sheet in such an application manner. Accordingly, theliquid-impermeable sheet 11 and the liquid-permeable sheet 13 areadhered to each other in a discontinuous manner, thereby causing theabsorber 12 to adhere to the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 and theliquid-permeable sheet 13 in a discontinuous manner. As an adhesive, ahot melt adhesive or the like is employed. Either of an olefin adhesiveor a styrene rubber adhesive can be employed as such an adhesive.

The fibrous non-woven fabric which can be employed in the presentembodiment may be manufactured using any one of a spun-lace method, aneedle punch method, a meltblown method, a thermal-bond method, aspun-bonding method, and a chemical-bonding method. The hydrophilicfibrous non-woven fabric can be formed of any one fiber selected fromamong a synthetic fiber, semi-synthetic fiber, and a regenerated fiber,which have been subjected to hydrophilic processing, or a compositefiber formed of a mixture of these fibers. The hydrophobic fibrousnon-woven fabric is obtained from the synthetic fiber. The hydrophobicfibrous non-woven fabric may contain semi-synthetic fiber andregenerated fiber, which have been subjected to water-repellentprocessing. The synthetic fiber which can be employed is not restrictedin particular. Specific examples of the synthetic fibers which can beemployed include: a polyester fiber; a polyacrylonitrile fiber; apolyvinyl chloride fiber; a polyethylene fiber; a polypropylene fiber;and a polystyrene. Examples of the synthetic fibers which can beemployed include: a sheath-core type composite fiber; a parallel-typecomposite fiber; a non-circular hollow fiber; microporous fiber;junction composite fiber; etc.

First Folding Portion

The first folding portion 15 is provided to the nursing pad main body 10such that it passes near the apex of the nursing pad main body 10, andcontinuously extends to around the perimeter portion 17. With such anarrangement, the absorber 12 is formed with different properties such asthickness, basic weight, or the like, at the first folding portion 15 ascompared with the surroundings thereof, thereby providing difference instiffness between the first folding portion 15 and the surroundingsthereof. Also, the first folding portion 15 may be formed by embossing apart of the nursing pad main body 10. Such an arrangement also providesa difference in stiffness between the first folding portion 15 and theperimeter 17.

Also, an arrangement may be made in which the absorber 12 is notprovided to a portion that passes near the apex of the nursing pad mainbody 10 and extends up to around the perimeter 17, and theliquid-permeable sheet 13 and the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 directlyadhere to each other using a hot melt adhesive, thereby forming thefirst folding portion 15. Such an arrangement also provides differencein stiffness between the first folding portion and the surroundingsthereof. FIG. 8 shows the perspective view, and FIG. 9 shows the crosssectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 8 of the nursing pad mainbody 10 when the first folding portion 15 is provided by bonding. Forexample, an absorber 12 is separated into two pieces 19, aliquid-impermeable 11 sheet is separated into two pieces 18, and aliquid-permeable 13 sheet is separated into two pieces 20, and then thepiece of absorber 19 is sandwiched between liquid-impermeable sheet 18and the piece of the liquid-permeable sheet 20 respectively, therebyforming two pieces of nursing pad main body 21. With bonding each pieceof nursing pad main body 21, the nursing pad main body 10 whose bondingline serves as the first folding portion 15 is formed.

Examples of the modifications of the nursing pad main body 10 accordingto the present embodiment include a modification in which the firstfolding portion is provided not in a continuous manner, but in adiscontinuous manner. Specifically, the first folding portions areprovided at a predetermined pitch giving consideration to the balancebetween the flexibility, which allows the nursing pad main body to befolded, and the water absorption capacity. With such a modification, theabsorber 12 is not divided by the first folding portion 25. Thus,mother's milk is absorbed by the entire area of the absorber, therebyproviding superior water absorption capacity.

Also, an arrangement may be made in which the first folding portion isprovided in a discontinuous manner to regions other than the portionwith which the user's nipple is in contact when the nursing pad mainbody is being worn. Specifically, the first folding portion is eachprovided to a part extending such that the folding portion passes nearthe apex of the nursing pad main body up to the portion around theperimeter, except for the portion which is to be in contact with theuser's nipple, i.e., is each provided to separate regions on both sidesacross the central region. Here, each first folding portion is providedcontinuously. Also, each of the folding portions may be provided to boththe regions in a discontinuous manner, instead of the aforementionedarrangement in which each first folding portion is providedcontinuously. Also, an arrangement may be made in which a single firstfolding portion is provided to only one of both of the sides across thecentral region. With such an arrangement, the first folding portion isnot provided to the portion which is to be in contact with the user'snipple. This suppresses feelings of discomfort when the user is wearingthe nursing pad main body.

Also, the nursing pad main body may further include a second foldingportion provided such that it passes near the apex of the nursing padmain body, extends to around the perimeter of the nursing pad main body,in addition to the first folding portion. Here, the first foldingportion and the second folding portion are formed orthogonal to eachother. The second folding portion 57 is formed in the same way as thefirst folding portion 55 as described above. Such an arrangement allowsthe nursing pad main body to be easily folded not only along the firstfolding portion which serves as a folding axis, but also along thesecond folding portion which serves as another folding axis. This moreeffectively prevents the nursing pad main body from losing its shape,thereby allowing the user to easily wear it again.

Also, an arrangement may be made in which the liquid-impermeable sheethas bending responsive means positioned across the first foldingportion. Examples of such bending-responsive means include an elasticmember and so forth, provided across the first folding portion. A panelformed in the shape of a sheet having elasticity is employed as such anelastic member. For example, a sheet formed of a foam material and anon-woven fabric such as a spunbonded non-woven fabric, through-airnon-woven fabric, SMS non-woven fabric, etc., formed with a basic weightof 30 g/m² or more, exhibits increased elasticity. Accordingly, suchsheets are employed as the elastic member having a function ofsatisfactory bending-responsive means, thus the shape of the nursing padrestores.

Fastening Means

As described in the present embodiment, the nursing pad main bodypreferably includes the fastening means 16 which allows the nursing padmain body to be fastened to the user's clothing. Let us consider anarrangement in which the fastening means 16 is provided on the firstfolding portion 15. Such an arrangement leads to a problem of preventingthe nursing pad main body 10 from being folded along the first foldingportion 15 which serves as a folding axis. Accordingly, the fasteningmeans 16 is preferably provided to a predetermined region in the nursingpad main body, except for the first folding portion 15. Specificexamples of fastening means 16 include: a means in which styrene rubberadhesive is applied; and a means in which a male mechanical fastenerhaving multiple hooks is provided. With such an arrangement, the nursingpad main body 10 follows the bra by way of the fastening means 16. Thiseffectively prevents the nursing pad main body 10 from losing its shape,thereby allowing the user to easily wear the nursing pad main body 10again together with the bra in the normal state as before.

Display Region

The display region 6A is provided to the wrapping member 2A by a knownand conventional method such as a printing method or the like such thatit provides visual confirmation from the outside of the wrapping member2A. The contents of the display region are not restricted in particular,as long as the display region gives the user instructions that thenursing pad main body 10 should be worn with a first folding portion 15being positioned obliquely from the upper-outer side to the lower-innerside of the user's breast. For example, the display region may beprovided in a form of drawings or texts, which gives the userinformation with respect to the wearing state in which the user iswearing the nursing pad main body 10 in a proper manner, as shown inFIG. 2. Alternatively, the display region may be provided in a formwhich gives the user information with respect to the upper side and thelower side of the nursing pad main body 10, thereby guiding the user toa proper wearing state.

Note that another display region (not shown) may be directly provided tothe nursing pad main body 10 such that it provides the same visualinformation as that of the display region 6A, which can be confirmedfrom the outside of the nursing pad main body 10. Specifically, thedisplay region may be directly provided to the outer side of the surfaceof the liquid-impermeable sheet 11. Also, the display region may bedirectly provided to the inner side of the surface of theliquid-permeable sheet 13. Also, an arrangement may be made in which thedisplay region is provided to the inner side or the outer side of thesurface of an absorber 12, and the liquid-permeable sheet 13 or theliquid-impermeable sheet 11 has translucency, thereby allowing the userto see the display region through the translucent liquid-permeable sheet13 or the translucent liquid-impermeable sheet 11. Also, the displayregion may be provided to the edge of the liquid-permeable sheet 13 orthe liquid-impermeable sheet 11 in the form of a tag.

Instruction Manual

Examples of the modifications of the present embodiment include anarrangement in which the nursing pad wrapped body 1A includes aninstruction manual that provides the same visual information as that ofthe display region 6A, instead of or in addition to the display region6A.

Operation and Effects

A description will be given regarding the operation and effects of thenursing pad wrapped body 1A according to the present embodiment. Thenursing pad wrapped body 1A according to the present embodiment has thedisplay region 6A which guides the user to a proper wearing state inwhich the nursing pad main body 10 is being worn with the first foldingportion 15 being positioned obliquely from the upper-outer side to thelower-inner side of the user's breast (with the above-describedmodification, the nursing pad wrapped body 1A includes an instructionmanual that provides the same visual information). Such an arrangementallows the user to easily and properly wear the nursing pad main body 10according to the instructions of the display region. Furthermore, thenursing pad main body 10 is easily folded along the first foldingportion 15 that serves as a folding axis, in a case that the userdisplaces the nursing pad main body 10 along with the bra downward andobliquely when the user gives one breast to a suckling baby. Such anarrangement prevents the nursing pad main body 10 within the bra fromfolding in an irregular form, thereby effectively preventing the nursingpad main body 10 from losing its shape. Furthermore, in a case that theuser wears the nursing pad main body 10 again together with the braafter breast-feeding, the nursing pad main body 10 can be easilyrestored to the normal state, thereby allowing the user to easily wearit again.

Second Embodiment

A nursing pad wrapped body 1B according to a second embodiment is anindividually-wrapped nursing pad wrapped body including the singlenursing pad main body 10 wrapped in a wrapping member 2B. Morespecifically, the nursing pad wrapped body 1B is an individually-wrappednursing pad wrapped body including the single nursing pad main body 10,folded into two with the first folding portion 15 as a folding axis, ina wrapped form. FIG. 6 is a plan view which shows the nursing padwrapped body 1B. As shown in FIG. 6, the wrapping member 2B includes adisplay region 6B that provides the visual information with regard to amethod of wearing the nursing pad which is a wrapped article includedtherein, which can be confirmed from the outside of the wrapping member2B. The display region 6B provides the same displayed contents as thoseof the display region 6A according to the first embodiment. That is tosay, FIG. 2 is also an enlarged view which shows the display region 6B.

Wrapping Member 2B

The wrapping member 2B, which is a component of the nursing pad wrappedbody 1B according to the present embodiment, is formed of a known andconventional material. On the other hand, the nursing pad wrapped body1B is formed by a known and conventional manufacturing method. Specificexamples of the materials preferably employed include a polyethylenefilm, etc.

Operation and Effects

Description will be made regarding the operation and effects of thenursing pad wrapped body 1B according to the present embodiment. Thenursing pad wrapped body 1B according to the present embodiment has thedisplay region 6B which guides the user to a proper wearing state inwhich the nursing pad main body 10 is being worn with the first foldingportion 15 being positioned obliquely from the upper-outer side to thelower-inner side of the user's breast. Such an arrangement allows theuser to easily and properly wear the nursing pad main body 10 accordingto the instructions of the display region. Thus, the nursing pad wrappedbody 1B according to the present embodiment provides the same operationand effects as those of the nursing pad wrapped body 1A according to thefirst embodiment. In addition, the nursing pad wrapped body 1B accordingto the present embodiment includes the display region 6B which displaysthe wearing method. Thus, in particular, the present embodiment iseffectively applied to a portable nursing pad.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedand illustrated above, it is to be understood that they are exemplary ofthe invention and are not to be considered to be limiting. Additions,omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made theretowithout departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered to be limited by theforegoing description and is only limited by the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A nursing pad wrapped body comprising: a nursing pad having a pair ofnursing pad main bodies formed in a shape that allows a user's breaststo be covered; and a wrapped member which wraps the nursing pad, eachnursing pad main body comprising: a liquid-impermeable sheet, formedwith an external shape and having a prescribed height from perimeter toan apex of said nursing pad main body; a liquid-permeable sheet,provided on the breast side of said liquid-impermeable sheet and joinedto said liquid-impermeable sheet at the periphery thereof; an absorber,provided between said liquid-impermeable sheet and said liquid-permeablesheet, which absorbs and retains mother's milk; a first folding portion,arranged such that it passes near the apex of said nursing pad main bodyand extends to around said perimeter of said nursing pad main body,which serves as a folding axis along which said nursing pad can befolded; and a display region, providing visual information at a positionat which the information can be confirmed from outside of said wrappingmember, which prompts the user to wear said nursing pad main body withsaid first folding portion being positioned obliquely from theupper-outer side to the lower-inner side of the user's breast.
 2. Anursing pad wrapped body comprising: a nursing pad having a pair ofnursing pad main bodies formed in a shape that allows user's breasts tobe covered; an instruction manual illustrating a usage method of thenursing pad; and a wrapping member which wraps the nursing pad and theinstruction manual, each nursing pad main body comprising: aliquid-impermeable sheet, formed with an external shape and having aprescribed height from perimeter to an apex of said nursing pad mainbody; a liquid-permeable sheet, provided on the breast side of saidliquid-impermeable sheet and joined to said liquid-impermeable sheet atthe periphery thereof; an absorber, provided between saidliquid-impermeable sheet and said liquid-permeable sheet, which absorbsand retains mother's milk; and a first folding portion, arranged suchthat it passes near the apex of said nursing pad main body and extendsto around said perimeter of said nursing pad main body, which serves asa folding axis along which said nursing pad can be folded, wherein saidinstruction manual displays contents in which said nursing pad main bodyis worn with said first folding portion being positioned obliquely fromthe upper-outer side to the lower-inner side of the user's breast.
 3. Anursing pad wrapped body according to claim 1, wherein said nursing padmain body, in a state folded into two with said first folding portion asa folding axis, is wrapped by the wrapping member, and wherein saiddisplay region displays a state in which said nursing pad main body isworn such that said first folding portion is positioned obliquely fromthe upper-outer side to the lower-inner side of the user's breast.
 4. Anursing pad wrapped body according to claim 1, wherein said nursing padmain body further includes a fastening means for fastening said nursingpad main body to the user's clothing at a region other than said firstfolding portion and a region orthogonal to said first folding portion,and wherein said display region provides information with respect to amethod for fastening said nursing pad main body to the user's clothingusing said fastening means with said first folding portion beingpositioned obliquely from the upper-outer side to the lower-inner sideof the user's breast.
 5. A nursing pad wrapped body according to claim2, wherein said instruction manual includes a display of an example suchthat said first folding portion is positioned obliquely from theupper-outer side to the lower-inner side of the user's breast.
 6. Anursing pad wrapped body according to claim 1, wherein there is adifference in stiffness between said first folding portion and a regionother than said first folding portion of the nursing pad main body.